Bridge Over Troubled Water
adapted from National Park Service

Florida's waters are under siege. Seagrasses are dying. Algae is blooming. Fish populations are plummeting, and with them, the state's commercial and recreational fishing industries. Downstream lies Everglades National Park, one of the most unique, biodiverse and endangered ecosystems on the planet.
It can be difficult to believe that a park with such distinctive natural beauty could also have such severe environmental problems. Though visitors to the region are wowed by its spectacular wetlands, the truth is that development has changed where water flows within the Florida Peninsula—and where it doesn't. As a result, for all its splendor, the Everglades ecosystem severely lacks the freshwater it needs.
Everglades National Park was established in 1934 to protect what remained of the vanishing natural Everglades. It was the first national park that was dedicated not for its scenic views but for its incredible biodiversity. However, scientists came to recognize that reversing the damage to this ecosystem was critical to maintaining its environmental and economic viability. Indeed, in the past few decades, numerous proposed restoration projects have addressed ways to reverse these mistakes and restore the Everglades.
The National Parks Conservation Association has long been advocating for ways to send more water south and help bring life back to Everglades National Park. By diverting flows from Lake Okeechobee back to their historic pattern through the heart of the ecosystem, America's Everglades can be restored and save Florida's estuary communities from the ecological turmoil that has reigned for decades.
One project holds the key to this restoration—bridging Tamiami Trail. Bridging the trail literally means elevating strategic portions of the roadway above the wetlands, reconnecting wildlife habitat and allowing water that has been blocked for decades to flow freely into Florida Bay. One mile of the 6.5-mile Tamiami Trail bridging is already complete, with more progress on the horizon.
5
Which of the following statements describes the organizational method used in this essay?
A.
The essay compares the difference between the original purpose for establishing Everglades National Park to its purpose today.
B.
The essay illustrates the causes of the loss of freshwater in Everglades National Park and the effect this has on visitors.
C.
The essay details the sequence of events that has caused the Everglades to lose its biodiversity.
D.
The essay describes the increasing damage to the Everglades' ecosystem and solutions to reverse the damage.